Poverty Related Education in Pediatrics: Current State, Gaps and Call to Action

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Medical Education
• Social Determinants of Health
• Health Equity

Background:

• 1 in 6 children (12 million) live in poverty, a critical issue impacting child health.
• COVID-19 exacerbated existing inequities, highlighting the need for medical professionals to address poverty's health effects.
• Poverty, racism, and social factors significantly affect child health and well-being, necessitating targeted educational interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current state of poverty-related training in pediatric medical education (undergraduate, graduate, continuing).
• To identify gaps and opportunities for enhancing curricula, focusing on the intersectionality of poverty and racism.
• To propose a framework for developing effective, outcome-oriented poverty-related education and training.

Main Methods:

• Review of current pediatric medical education curricula regarding poverty and related health inequities.
• Application of a logic model framework to outline educational content, learning strategies, and desired outcomes.
• Emphasis on community partnerships, technology integration, faculty development, and robust evaluation methods.

Main Results:

• Significant gaps exist in current pediatric medical education concerning poverty and its intersection with racism.
• Need for robust evaluation of poverty-related training programs is identified.
• Opportunities for incorporating best practices, technology, and community-based learning are highlighted.

Conclusions:

• There is a critical need to enhance pediatric medical education to address poverty-related health inequities.
• Collaboration among institutions, accrediting bodies, and policymakers is essential for systemic change.
• Developing skilled educators and mentors is vital for advancing poverty-focused medical training.